Ladder Rung Bracket Assembly

ABSTRACT

A bracket assembly is disclosed to secure a cable bundle to a ladder rung. The bracket assembly includes a metal bracket and protective grommets. The metal bracket has a first member, side walls and second members. The first member of the metal bracket is parallel to the second members of the metal bracket. The protective grommets are secured to the metal bracket. The protective grommets have a base member, sleeves extending from the base member, a side member and a bottom member. The assembled metal bracket and protective grommets receive the ladder rung and the sleeves of the protective grommets wrap around the cable bundle positioned on the ladder rung to secure the cable bundle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/769,983, filed Feb. 27, 2013, the subject matter of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ladder rungs, and more particularly, toa bracket assembly for securing cable bundles to a ladder rung.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to secure a bundle of cables to a support member, such as arung of a ladder rack, with a cable tie or a strap and buckle. Typicallya cushion sleeve is used with the cable tie or strap to protect thebundle of cables from being damaged by the cable tie or strap. However,it is difficult to install cable ties or straps with a cushion sleevebecause of the variations in rung design, as well as the proximity ofother obstructions near the cable bundle and the ladder rack.

It is also well known to use cable cleats to install cable bundles tocable ladder racks. For example, existing cable cleats, such as EllisPatents' Vulcan and Emperor Cable Cleats, provide an alternative tocable ties or straps and cushion sleeves. However, cable cleats areexpensive and difficult to install because cable cleats typicallyrequire additional mounting hardware that has been configured for aspecific cable routing system.

Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved bracket assembly forattaching cable bundles to a ladder rung.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a bracket assembly that securescables to a ladder rung. The bracket assembly includes a metal bracketand at least one protective grommet. The metal bracket has a firstmember, side walls and second members. The first member of the metalbracket is parallel to the second members of the metal bracket. Theprotective grommets are secured to the metal bracket. Each protectivegrommet has a base member and sleeves extending from the base member.The protective grommet may also have a side member and a bottom member.The assembled metal bracket and protective grommets receive the ladderrung. The sleeves of the protective grommets wrap around a cable bundlepositioned on the ladder rung. The sleeves overlap to secure the cablebundle to the ladder rung.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder rung bracket assembly securingcable bundles to a ladder rung.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a metal bracket of the ladder rungbracket assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the protective grommets of theladder rung bracket assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the metal bracket and protective grommetpositioned to be assembled to form the ladder rung bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the assembled metal bracket andprotective grommet of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the assembled metal bracket andprotective grommet of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the metal bracket and protective grommetof FIG. 5 positioned to be installed on a ladder rung.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the metal bracket and protective grommetof FIG. 7 positioned on the ladder rung.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the metal bracket and protective grommetof FIG. 8 with the sleeves of the protective grommet wrapped around thecable bundle and metal ties positioned to be installed around theprotective grommet

FIG. 10 is a side view of the ladder rung bracket assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative ladder rung bracketassembly securing cable bundles to a ladder rung.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a metal bracket of the ladder rungbracket assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a grommet of the ladder rung bracketassembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the metal bracket and grommet positioned to beassembled to form the ladder rung bracket of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the assembled metal bracket andgrommet of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the assembled metal bracket andgrommet of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the metal bracket and grommet of FIG. 15positioned to be installed on a ladder rung.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the metal bracket and grommet of FIG.17 positioned on the ladder rung.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the metal bracket and grommet of FIG.18 with the sleeves of the grommet wrapped around the cable bundle and astrap and buckle positioned to be installed around the grommet

FIG. 20 is a side view of the ladder rung bracket assembly of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-10 illustrate a ladder rung bracket assembly 50 designed to beused with a slotted or un-slotted ladder rungs. As illustrated in FIG.1, the ladder rung bracket assembly 50 of the present invention securesa cable bundle 100 to a ladder rung 120 using metal ties 110. The ladderrung bracket may also secure the cable bundle 100 to a ladder rung 120using a strap and buckle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, the ladder rung bracket assembly 50includes a metal bracket 60 and two protective grommets 80. FIG. 2illustrates the metal bracket 60. The metal bracket 60 includes a firstmember 62, side walls 66, and second members 68. The side walls 66extend from the first member 62 to the second members 68. The firstmember 62 is parallel to the second members 68. The first and secondmembers 62, 68 include holes 64, 70, respectively, for receiving thelocking features 94, 96 of the protective grommets 80 (see FIG. 4). Thedistal end of each second member 68 includes an outwardly extendingflange 72.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the protective grommets 80. The protectivegrommets 80 are identical pieces that interlock with each other asillustrated in FIG. 5. Each protective grommet 80 includes a base member82 with sleeves 84, a side member 86, and a bottom member 88 withfingers 90. The plurality of fingers 90 of each protective grommet 80interlock to secure the protective grommets 80 to each other. Theinterlocked fingers 90 of the bottom members 88 create a channel forreceiving the ladder rung 120. The side member 86 and the bottom member88 include a crown feature 92 to help accommodate different rungdimensions and to increase resistance to movement when the ladder rungbracket assembly 50 is installed on a ladder rung 120.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the backside of the bottom member 88includes locking features 94 and the backside of the base member 82includes locking features 96. The locking features 94, 96, such as apin, rivet or snap, enable the protective grommet 80 to be locked intoposition when the protective grommet 80 is pressed onto the metalbracket 60. The protective grommet 80 also includes flanges 98 extendingfrom the backside of the sleeves 84. The flanges 98 are interlockingfeatures that receive the metal ties 110 during installation (see FIG.1). The flanges 98 eliminate the need for the installer to hold thesleeve 84 in position while applying the metal tie 110 during the finalinstallation of the ladder rung bracket assembly 50.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate assembled metal bracket 60 and protective grommet80 being installed on the ladder rung 120. As illustrated in FIG. 7, themetal bracket 60 and protective grommet 80 slide onto the ladder rung120 from the backside. Next, the sleeves 84 of the base member 82 of theprotective grommets 80 are wrapped around the cable bundle 100,overlapped and locked into place (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Metal ties 110 arewrapped underneath one end of the metal bracket 60 and sleeve 84 of theprotective grommet 80 to secure the cable bundle 100 to the ladder rung120 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). Finally, a tool would tighten the metal ties110 to complete installation of the ladder rung bracket assembly 50.

The ladder rung bracket assembly 50 is an improvement over prior ladderrung brackets. The protective grommet 80 of the present inventioncontrols the lateral movement and the axial movement of the cable bundle100. The interlocking protective grommet 80 also provides a hands freeinstallation. The ladder rung bracket assembly 50 also provides shortcircuit protection, abrasion protection, greater cable diameterflexibility, and greater rung type flexibility.

FIGS. 11-20 illustrate an alternative ladder rung bracket assembly 150that is designed to be used with roll formed ladder rungs 220. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the ladder rung bracket assembly 150 secures acable bundle 200 to a ladder rung 220 using a strap 210 and a buckle212. The ladder rung bracket may also secure the cable bundle 200 to aladder rung 220 using a metal tie.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12-16, the ladder rung bracket assembly 150includes a metal bracket 160 and a grommet 180. As illustrated in FIG.12, the metal bracket 160 includes a first member 162, a side wall 168,and a second member 174. The distal end of the first member 162 includesa curved flange 164. The first member 162 also includes contact points166. The sidewall 168 extends between the first member 162 and thesecond member 174. The sidewall 168 includes an opening 170 with aprojection 172 (see FIGS. 14-15). The distal end of the second member174 includes a flange 176.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13-16, the grommet 180 includes a base member182 with sleeves 184. The backside of the grommet 180 includes a lockingfeature 186 (see FIG. 14). The locking feature includes two L-shapedflanges positioned to create a channel therebetween. The locking featurelocks the grommet 180 into position when pressed onto the metal bracket160. The backside of the sleeves 184 of the grommet 180 include flanges188 for receiving a strap 210 and a buckle 212 (see FIG. 11). Theflanges 188 eliminate the need for an installer to hold the sleeves 184in position while applying the strap 210 and buckle 212 during finalinstallation.

FIGS. 17-20 illustrate the installation of the ladder rung bracketassembly 150 onto the ladder rung 220. As illustrated in FIG. 17, thecurved flange 164 of the metal bracket 160 hooks around a flange 222 ofthe ladder rung 220. Next, the assembled metal bracket 160 and grommet180 is rotated to engage the opposing flange 222 of the ladder rung 220to clip the assembled metal bracket 160 and grommet 180 onto the ladderrung 220. As illustrated in FIGS. 18-19, the grommet sleeves 184 arewrapped around the cable bundle 200, overlapped, and locked into place.A strap 210 is wrapped underneath the metal bracket 160 and around thegrommet sleeves 184 to secure the cable bundle 200 to the ladder rung220 (see FIGS. 19-20). Finally, a tool tensions the strap 210 tocomplete the installation of the ladder rung bracket assembly 150.

The ladder rung bracket assembly 150 is also an improvement over priorart ladder rung brackets. The grommet 180 of the ladder rung bracketassembly 150 controls the lateral movement and the axial movement of thecable bundle 200. The interlocking flanges 188 of the grommet 180provide a hands free installation. The ladder rung bracket assembly 150also provides short circuit protection, abrasion protection, lowerinstallation time, and greater cable diameter flexibility.

Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth inthe foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way ofillustration only and not as limitation. The actual scope of theinvention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewedin their proper perspective based on the prior art.

1. A bracket assembly for securing a cable bundle to a ladder rung, thebracket assembly comprising: a metal bracket having a first member, sidewalls and second members, wherein the first member is parallel to thesecond members; and protective grommets secured to the metal bracket,wherein each protective grommet having a base member, sleeves extendingfrom the base member, a side member and a bottom member; whereby theassembled metal bracket and protective grommets receive the ladder rungand the sleeves of the protective grommets wrap around the cable bundlepositioned on the ladder rung, wherein the sleeves overlap to secure thecable bundle.
 2. The bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the firstmember and the second members of the metal bracket having holes forreceiving locking features of the protective grommet
 3. The bracketassembly of claim 1, wherein a back side of each bottom member includesa locking feature and the back side of each base member includes alocking feature, whereby the locking features of the protective grommetsare received in holes in the first and second members of the metalbracket.
 4. The bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the protectivegrommets are identical grommets that are interlocked with each other. 5.The bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom members of theprotective grommet include a plurality of fingers.
 6. The bracketassembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of fingers of each protectivegrommet interlock to secure the protective grommets to each other. 7.The bracket assembly of claim 6, wherein the interlocked fingers of thebottom members create a channel for receiving the ladder rung.
 8. Thebracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the side members and the bottommembers of the protective grommets include a crown feature foraccommodating different rung dimensions and increasing resistance tomovement when the bracket assembly is installed on the ladder rung. 9.The bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective grommet furthercomprising flanges extending from the back side of the sleeves, wherebythe flanges receive metal locking ties when the sleeves of theprotective grommets are positioned around the cable bundle.
 10. Abracket assembly for securing a cable bundle to a ladder rung, thebracket assembly comprising: a metal bracket having a first member, aside wall and a second member, wherein the side wall extends between thefirst member and the second member and the first member is parallel tothe second member; and a protective grommet secured to the metalbracket, wherein the protective grommet having a base member and sleevesextending from the base member; whereby the assembled metal bracket andprotective grommet receive the ladder rung and the sleeves of theprotective grommet wrap around the cable bundle positioned on the ladderrung, wherein the sleeves overlap to secure the cable bundle.
 11. Thebracket assembly of claim 10, wherein the first member of the metalbracket having a distal end with a curved flange for engaging a flangeof the ladder rung to secure the bracket assembly to the ladder rung.12. The bracket assembly of claim 10, wherein the first member of themetal bracket having contact points for engaging the ladder rung. 13.The bracket assembly of claim 10, wherein the side wall of the metalbracket includes an opening with a projection.
 14. The bracket assemblyof claim 10, wherein the second member of the metal bracket having adistal end with an outwardly extending flange.
 15. The bracket assemblyof claim 10, wherein the protective grommet further comprising a lockingfeature extending from a backside of the base member of the grommet, thelocking feature engages the metal bracket to secure the bracketassembly.
 16. The bracket assembly of claim 15, wherein the lockingfeature comprising two L shaped flanges that create a channel forreceiving the second member of the metal bracket.
 17. The bracketassembly of claim 10, wherein the protective grommet further comprisingflanges extending from the back side of the sleeves, whereby the flangesreceive metal locking ties when the sleeves of the protective grommetsare positioned around the cable bundle.